Rotary air-compressor



H. 0.'JACKSON.' ROTARY Am COMPRESSOR PatentedSept. 14, 6SHEET SHE 53 v: III' I a e v 3 0 n q r m o- 4 I E Q Q w I, P d 5 I I g5 v /y Q G Q '8 I. I E i i x!! R '1 I s, 2?:5 0 Q Q 3R R R g y y I 11! hi I Pateiited Sept; 14,1920.

H. 0. JACKSON.

ROTARY AIR COMPRESSOR. APPLICATION HLED JUNE 19. 19l9- Patented Se t; 14, 192 0;

a S-HEBTISSHEET 3.

I I {n r I I :ww" I! H 1 1mm a w a [Ill 2 A III "'N X Q M 1 1 I I 2. E l f i f 1 l E I (0 M l 5 I II 5 f w E I g 1 I 5 I N J i 5 T 4 I g "m l '11 H 1 1 r I I y I| II Q q u I Q {1 awuemtoz g hr/900 n. a. JACKSON. ROTARYIAIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION 'FILED JUNE 19. 1919. I 1,35 2,751, Patented Sept. 14,1920.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

H. 0. JACKSON.

ROTARY AIR COMPRESSOR. APPL|CAT|ON-FILED JUNE 19. 1919.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

||||||| m ll H; mm

Patented Sept. 14,1920,

H. O. JACKSON. ROTARY AIR COMPRESSOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 19:9.

Patented se ia. 14,1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

ll 00 o omw .0, Jar/4500, avwewto'c H NRY o. JACKSON, or nnnvfii, donomno, assren'on' To The Jackson coi lrnnsson co urm, OF -DENVEB, comman s CORPORATION or COLORADO. v.

" normrna-comransson, i Y I in operation, are held outwardly in.contact I To, all whom it may concern.

' Be it k110W11-that'I, HENRY 0. Jnoxeon, a citizen of the United States, res1d1ng'at the city and county of Denver and Stateof- Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Alr Compressors; andI do declarethe following .to

be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying. drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon,

- I which form a part of this specification.

', My invention relates to improvements in rotary air compressors or pumps, and while the structure will be described particularly with reference to its employment as an air compressor, it must be understood that "it may be employed for pumping fluids other than air.

My objectis to provide a construction of this class, which shall efiiciently and ecopumping function.

of a casing having an approximately cylindrical chamber, 1n which is eccentricall mounted a rotor, carrying radial slidable blades which, whenthe machine is with the interior surface of the chamber by centrifugal force. Preferably I employ springs acting on the inner extremities of held at their'outward limit of movement, even when the machine is not use.

Arranged below the casin is a lubricant chamber, from which the oi is' drawn into the center of the rotor and caused to flow outwardly around the blades for lubrication j and: sealing purposes by the centrifugal force developed by the rotor.

Thislubricating feature is very important and necessitates a separator in which the compressed air is separated from the oil, the latter being returned to the lubricant receptacle whereby a circulation of oil from the lubricant receptacle throu h the rotor chamber and thence through t e separator and back tothe receptacle is constantly maintained when the. apparatus improved construction.

the separator, and-facilitate the bringing perform the air-compression or ly-dispose these blades, whereby they are normally H is in use. .Hence, it will be observed that the separator is an exceedingly important feature of my I 1 toward the right.

the casing carrying the rotor. and is. in com munication with the rotor chamber through the medium of ofa. casing which is approximately rectangular in shape, both in horizontal and'vertical "section, and its interior is provided with a central member dividing the chamber of the separator into two compartments, the walls of this central posing walls on opposite sides thereof being Y sneciflcation'oflietters Patent. Patented Sept. 14,1920 Application medium: 19, 191 9. stun No. 805,812.; f1 This separator is arranged at one side of v I ports controlled by check valves. The separator consists member, as well as the opgrooved to form V-shapedribs whereby the contact surface for oil and-air is relatively great. Withm the spaces between the cen tral member and the opposing walls are located baflies, whose. function. is to break up i the air and oil duringtheir passage-throug of these fluids into contact with the ribbed surfaces of the interior of the separaQr, the latter being soconstructed that there'- is a constant circulation of coolin water, both to the central member and t e outer. walls thereof, whereby the ribbed surfaces are kept constantly cool, which greatly facilitates the separation-of the air from' 'the oil and-at the. same time coolsthe air before it passes to the receiver. Y

It must be understood that when: the ma-' chine is in operation, the oil or liquid lubricant within the receptacle is under the same pressure as the air within the rotor, and the separator; hence provision is made. whereby this pressure is automatically relieved as soon as the rotor stops, otherwise the oil within the receptaclewould continue to enter the rotor chamber and flood the structure.

Having briefly outlined my improvement,

I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanymg drawing, in which is illustrated an I embodiment thereof. In this drawing:

Figure'lis a side elevation of the machine, viewed from the side opposite that where the separator is located. 1

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same,

'or a view looking in the direction of'arrow 2, Fig. 1f," 7

Fig.3 is a-vertical, longitudinal section take mate yon the ..'line 4-4, ig. 3, looking approximatelyon the line 3-3-, Fig. 2. F1 4 isa' cross section taken approxi- Fig. is asection taken through thevalve space from whege it entered, and passes mechanism located between the rotor cham? .thence throu h'openings 25 formed in the her and the separator, shown .on a larger casin and t ence into contact with cylinscale than in the other views. c drica plungers 27, of the-valve mechanism 5 Figs. 6 and 7 are cross sections taken (see Flgs 5 to 8). These plungers are .nor- 70 through the casing of the valve mechanism mally acted on by springs 28, to cut off com shown in Fig. 5, and on a larger scale.' mumcation between the rotor chamber and Fig. 8 illustratesthe several parts of one the chamber 29 of the separator 30; The of the valves, shown on 'the same. scale as springs 28 surround'reduced necks 31,formed in Fig. 5, but on a smaller. scale than inon plugs 32, threaded into a core 33, posi- 75 Fi s. 6 and 7. v tioned in a cylindrical cavity 34, bored in the ig. 9 is' a sectional detail viewof the 6 wall of the rotor casing. henthe plungers' structure for automatically .relieving the 27 are acted on by 1 1e air under pressure, lubricant receptacle from pressure when the they move outwardly or toward the se ar'ator machine is not in use, the same being shown and allow the air 00 enter a cham er 35 80 on a larger scale than in Fig. 2. formed in the core 33, whence the air passes Fig. 10 is a detail view, partly in section, through openings 36 to a main opening 37, of one'o-f the radial blades of the rotor, whenceit passes through a central opening shown on a somew at larger-scale. r 38 formed inthe adjacent wall of the sep-.

Fig. 11 is an' end elevation oflthe same. arator. f 8 5 The same reference characters indicate the This separator is composed of three dissame parts in all the views. tinct parts, consisting of exterior members .Let the numeral 5' designate a casing pro- 39 an 40, and a central member 41, the sevvided with a chamber6 approximately yeral members being connected by suitable lindrical .in shape and in which is eccenfastening devices 42. The inner surfaces 90' trically mounted a rotor, 7, the wall of the of the two members 39 and 40 are construct chamber conforming to arcs struck from a ed to provide a relatively large surface area. number of differ nt radii, wher by the ey- The inner portion 45 of the central member lindrical rotor engages about one-quarter of 41 is spaced from the walls of the other memso the interior surface thereof- The rotor is bers and its surfaces opposite the surfaces 95 journaled in the opposite heads 8 and 9 of of the said members are also constructed tothe casing, one of the journals 10 being exprovide relatively large surfaces into 'contended to form an exterior shaft 12, carrying tact with which the O1]. and air arebrought a fly-wheel 13, the end of the shaft being for separating purposes. After leaving the further journaled in a support 14. The separator the air escapes into a sleeve 59, 100

other journal 15 is centrally bored, as shown which is connnected with a. conduit 60, lead- .at 16, and communicates at one extremity ing to the receiver (not shown). Further with a central cavity 17 in the rotor andat more, thissleeve 59 is threaded into. the sepits opposite extremity with one end of a pipe aratcr', as shown at 61 its. opposite ex- 18, the opposite end of the pipe communlcattremlty having a threa ed opening 62-, in 105. ing with the bottom of an; oil receptacle 19, which is inserted a screw plug 63. In the v by Wa of a passage 20. The flow of oil from end of the sleeve nearerthe separator is 10- the ln ricant receptacle through the pipe 18 cated a plunger valve 64, which is normally is controlled by'a valve or cut-off 2'of any heldin the closed positionby a spring 65, suitable construction. one end of which engages. the lug 63 while 110 The rotor is radially slotted as shown-at the other acts upon the valve. hen the ma- 21 to receive blades 22 which, when the ma- I chine is inuse and the compressed air is pass V chine is in-operatiomare held outwardly'in ing through the sleeve to the receiver, the

' contact with the adjacent surface of the wall valve 641s open or unseated. Connected of the chamber by centrifugal force. Light with this valve, which is formed hollow for 115 springs 23 are seated in the slots 21 whose the purpose, is one end of a stem-66, whose inner extremities are shouldered for the puropposite end is formed into a valve-piece 67, pose, the said springs'acting on the blades to which engages a seat 68, formed around the. normally hold them at their outward limit of inner extremity of a port 69, communicating movement, even when the machine is not with the atmosphere, this valve piece being 12( 65 opposite extremity ofthe cresce t-shap'ed 1n use I. seated when the machine 1s'1n use to prevent The-crescent-sha ed spa'cew-ithinthe rotor the e'scape of fluid through the port 69, its I chamber outside 0 the rotor is in comniunistem being acted on by a spring 70, which is cation with the atmosphere throu h an openinclosed within a hollow part 71 of the pluning 100, and the cham er is slight y cutaway ger valve 64, the stem having. an enlarged 12. or enlarged as shown at 24, where the air head 72, whichisi acted on by the spring to enters. This airis acted on by the bladesand hold the valvepiece- 67 in such position that finall when under maximum compression, when the plunger valve is opened due to the it is orced out of-the rotor chamber at the passage 0 compressed air, the valve 67 will e seated. When, however, the machine 1s 13 not in use, the plunger valve 6 1 is movedto the closed osition, thus opening the valve-I piece 67.

he .port 69is formed in a '73, which is connected with the plug 63 by a'nut 74. Furthermore-the art 73 has a threaded opening 75, with whlch is connect= 'ed one extremity of a pipe 76, whose opposite extremity is in communication with the top of the oil receptacle as shown at'77. Hence, when the machine is not in*use,the top of the e. is in communication lubricant receptacl with the atmosphere through the pipe 76,

i and the part 7 3, thus relieving the 011 recepstops. .oil through the separator,

jtacle from pressure and preventingftheflooding of'the structure with oil when themachlne isjnot in use, or as soon as the-rotor During the circulation ofjthe air and from the air'largely du'e which it is advantageously brought into contact, as heretofore explained, and passes downwardly through an opening 78 (see Fig,

4) into a conduit-7 9 and thence into the lubricant receptacle'19. Hence the oil is continually circulated through the machine when in use, being used over and over again, as will be readily understood as there 1s no. waste, or practically none. "Th

faces of the separator are kept cold bywater circulation, "which enters the separator through an inlet 80 at the the, outer members of the separator and throu h the central space '82 .of the member 41. he water, which passes upwardly Ward the'separator,

the upper extremity of this device having a funnel 93, the passage of oil being reguthrough the separator, escapes through an outlet 83 to a pipe 84,- which com mu n1cates' as shown at 85, with passages 86 in the wall of the rotor casing. Again, another portion of the water which enters the separator passes by way of a conduit 87 ,into the lower portion of the water jacket part of the rotor casing. In this way, the entire structure is kept cool at all times when in use. The

pipe 84 .is provided with an outlet 184 for the cooling water. In order tofacilitate heretofore described,.a' extremity 89 arranged in the passage between the rotor chamber and the separator, this extremity being elbow shapedand pointing to; the opposite extremity of the tube being connected with the lubricant receptacleabove the, oil therein, as shown at istube, a slight vacuum is formed which acts upon the lubricant chamber through the tube tofacilitate fluid circulation, as heretofore described. The lubricant chamber-is with "which aqfilli'n'g. device 92 is connected,

part 1 the oil is separated to the cooling action ofthe surfaces of the structure with e interior surbottom thereof, part of it passing' throug-h'the spaces 81 in" core or valve casing I the rope -Giana... tion of the fluid through the machine, as tube 88 has an open]- As the com ressed' air rushes past the position.

extremity 89 oft provided with an opening 91,

lated by -a"va1ve 94. This tube-88 may be called a 'Pitottube, reversed or positioned with its open extremity away. from, rather I I than toward, the current. H

,In further explanation of the structure shown in Fig fact that the sleeve 59 is provided with a of the bulbis 'rovided with an is threaded a nipple 98, having a longitudinal opening 99, which is normallyclosed by a rotary valvepiece 101.

Referring again to the it should be explained that the wall separator 30 is located, is provided-with a cylindrical bore into which .the core 33, car- .r ing .the series of check his core is held in place at its opposite ends by the, heads 8 the head 9 having valves, is inserted.

and 9 of the casing, a registering opening 102, whose outer'portion is'threaded as shown at 105,' to. receive a screw plug 104, which is omitted in Fig. 5 but 9, attention iscalled to the bulb 95, which extends downwardly'on the opposite side of the sleeve from the outlet 96. with which the conduit 60, leading to the-re ceiver, is'connect'ed. An objectof this bulb is to catch any liquid or other heavier thanparticles of matter which may have passed through the separato'r and to this end the bottom orifice 97, into which structure of the valve mechanism disclosed in Figs. 5 to 8'- 'inclus'ive, of the. casing '5 on the outlet side, where the I 95 disclosedin Fig.2.

This statement isbelieved to be sufiiciently accurate in view of the fact that this plug may beconsidered a part' of the head with which it is connected. It should be explained, however, of such size as to'permit the removal of the The oil receptacle 19 isprovided with a gage glass 107, which is slotte plate 108, which tion of holding the latter valve 64' rear of its seating extremity'with a series of openings, 115, through which the compressed when the valve from itsseat for the 7 ing being closed against the passage-of air when the valve is in ztheclosed or'seated It. should be, explained that thetube 70 for unloading the pressure in-the system, the rotor stops, but. also when the rotoris in motion, but runj nilllag as when the air inlet is closed; ach of theslidable' blades 21 of the-rotor functions not only when idly,

is recessedat its opposite extremities to re:

ceive packing me'mbers12l, which areact'ed 100 I that 'theopening 102 is 115. air passes freelyon its wayto thereceiver is unseated, its "forward ex j "tremity being then moved far enou h" away purpose, the said open-- on by springs 125 to maintain them in seal-' ing relation with the end heads of the rotor chamber. These packmgmembers 121 have eration. They are connected withv the blades by pins 123,

' 1 communication named application,

1 with the said receptacle which are passed through slots in projections 122 entering recesses 124.

As the following combination, to wit:.

A chamber, a rotor eccentrically mounted therein and having an axial passage and,

radial slots in communication therewith at their inner extremities, blades slidable in said;

slots and whose outer extremities engagethe inner surface of the chamber; a liquid-com,

taining receptacle below the chamber and in belowthe level of the liquid with the said passage of the rotor and said slots, the slots being the liquid after it enters-said passage, an air and liquid separator arranged above the "said receptacle and in communication with the rotor chamber on the outlet side andvwiththe said receptacle. for the return of the liquid and whereby the liquid in the receptacle is under the service pressure of the an when the machine is in operation for ,aircompression purposes, is common to this a plication and my copending application, erial No. 212,539, filed January 19th, 1918, it is claimed in the last I clalm:

. 1. In a rotary air compressor, the combination of a chamber, a rotor eccentrically mounted therein and having an axial passage and radial slots in communication therewith at-their innerextremities, blades slidable in said slots and whose outer extremities engage the chamber, a liquidcontaini-ng receptacle below the chamber and in communication below the. level of the liquid, with the said passage of the rotor,

an air and liquid separator arranged above the said receptacle and with the rotor chamber on the outlet side and for the return of the liquid, and whereby the liquid in the receptacle'is under the service pressure of the 'air when the machine'is in operation for alr-compresslon purposes, and means for automatically relieving the liquid in the recep- .slots in communication 60.

tech from the service pressure as soon as the machine ceases to operate, or is running ldly; Ina structure of-the class described, the combination of a chamber, a rotor mounted therein and having an axial passage and therewith, blades slidable in the slots, a liquid-containing receptacle below the chamber and in communithe level of the liquid with the liquid separator arranged above the said receptacle and in communication with the rotor chem is in operation,

with the receptacle above the liquid, and m only outlet for the level of the liquid with the said rotor passage above the said receptacle and in nommumcationwith thefrotor' chamber on the outlet 1 side of the latter,

for the return ofthe liquid, and means and not claimed herein.

' comprising a cond ning idly. in communication said slots and receptacle for the return of the liquidand whereby the latter is under the pressure of the air in the separator when the .gnachine and means for a'i'itomati the liquid in the receptacle from the said pressure when the machine ceases to operate, said means comprising a tube. in communication at one extremity cally relieving communication with'the atmosphere at its. opposite extremity, anda check valve normally acted on by the rotorchamber ,pres-. sure to cut off said last named communication but spring-held in the open position when the rotor is inactive, or is running idly.

3. .In a structure: of the class described, the combination of a chamber,"a rotor mounted therein and having a central} passage extending axially thereof, radial slots communicating at their inner extremities w1t ..-said passage,and blades slidable in the slots,

a liquid-containing receptacle below the chamber' and in communication below the an air and liquid separator positioned .v

and whose lower portion Is in communication with the sa1d receptacle automatically reliviirg the liquid in the receptacle from the p essure in the separator 1 as soon as the rotorgs inactive, said means 't in communication with the said receptacle above the liquid at one extremity and in communication at ltS' opposite extremity with the atmosphere beyond the separator, and a check valve acted on by the pressure in the separator to cut of? communication between the said COIldlllt .andthe atmosphere when the machine is in operation but spring-held in the open position when the rotor is inactive, 'or is run- 4, In a rotary air-compressor, the combination" of a chamber having an inlet for atmospheric air, andan outlet ffor com'-, pressed air, a rotor eccentrically mounted therein and having an axial pa'ssage'and radial slots in communication therewithat their inner extremities, blades slidable in whose outerqextremities ensurface of the chamber, a liquidcontaining receptacle below' the said chamber, a conduit leading); from said receptacle below the level oft e li uid, tothe axial passage ofthe'rotor cham er, means beyond the rotor'chamberoutlet for separating the liquid from the compressed ,air, a check valve for cuttin ofi communication between the rotorcham er outlet and said means when the rotor is-inactive, the separating-means bein' in communication with gage the inner the said receptac e for thereturn- 'of the 130.

c for liquid to the latter, cally relieving the liquid in the said receptacle from the pressure in the separating means when the rotor. isinactive, or is running idly.

5. In a rotary air compressor, the combination of a chamber having an inlet for atmospheric air, and an outlet for compressed air, a rotor eccentrically mounted therein and having an axial passage and radial slots in communication therewith at their inner extremities, blades slidable' in said slots and whose outer extremities engage. the inner surface of the chamber, a liquid-containing receptacle below the said chamber, a conduit leading from said receptacle below the as inactive, said last level of the liquid, to the axial passage of the rotor chamber, means beyond the rotor chamber outlet for separating the liquid rom the compressed cutting ofl communication between the rotor chamber outlet and said means when the rotor is inactive, the separating means be ing in communication with the said receptacle for the return of the liquid to the latter, means for automatically relieving the liquid in the said receptacle from the pres surein the separating meanswhen the rotor named means includcommunication at one extremity with the receptacle above the liquid therein and at its opposite extremity with the atmosphere, and a check valve acted on by the pressure'in the separating means for cutting off said last named communication when the machine is in operation.

6. A rotary air compressor, comprising a chamber having an inlet for atmospheric air, and an outlet for compressed air, a'rotor eccentrically mounted in said chamber, a liquid containing receptacle arranged below the rotor chamber and in communication below the liquid with the said chamber, means extending beyond the compressed air outlet of the rotor for separating the liquid from the air, means for returning said liquid to the receptacle and whereby the liquid therein is under the pressure in the separating means, and means for automatically relieving the liquid in the receptacle from such pressure when the rotor is inactive, or running idly.

7 A rotary air compressor, comprising a chamber having an inlet for atmospheric mg a conduit in air,'and an outlet for compressed air, a rotor eccentrically mounted in said chamber, a

liquid-containing receptacle arranged below the rotor chamber and in communication below the liquid with the said chamber, means and means for automati-' air, a check valve for.

' chamber,

ing the liquid in the receptacle from such pressure when the-rotor 1s inactive, said last named means including a' conduit having one extremity in communication withtlie receptacle above the liquid and its other extremity in'communication with the atmosphere, and a check valve acted on by the rotor chamber pressure for cutting off said last named communication when the ma chine is in operation. i

8. A structure of the class described, comprising a chamber having an inlet for atmospheric air, a rotor eccentrically mounted in said chamber, a liquid-containing receptacle arranged below the rotor chamber and in communication below the liquid with the said chamber, means extending beyond the compressed air outlet of the rotor for separating the liquid from the air, a check valve between the separator and the rotor chamber outlet-to cut oil communication by back pressure with the rotor chamber when the rotor isinactive, means for returning said liquid to the receptacle from the separating means, and means for automatically relieving the liquid in the receptacle from the separator pressure when the rotor is inactive, or running idly.' I

9. A rotary air compressor, having a liquid receptacle below the rotor chamber and in communication with the latter to cause the liquid to enter and pass through the chamberby centrifugal force, means in communication withthe compressed air outlet of the rotor chamber for separating the liquid from the air and returning the liquid, to

the receptacle under the pressure in the separator, and means for automatically relieving the liquid in the receptacle from the system pressure when the rotor is inactive, orrunning idly.

10. Arotary air compressor, comprising a a rotor therein, a liquid-containing receptacle below the rotor chamber, a connection between the receptacle and the chamber, whereby the liquid is caused to enter the chamber and pass out with the compressed air, means in communication with the compressed air outlet of the chamber for separating the liquid from the air and returning the liquid to the liquid receptacle, and a tube leading from the said receptacle above the liquid therein and whose outer extremity enters the rotor'chamber outlet and extends in the direction of the passage of the fluid to the separator, to facilitate the circulation of the liquid through the system.

11. A rotary air compressor, whose casing is provided with an opening intersecting the fluid outlet of the rotor chamber, and a casing inserted in said opening and carrying a number of check valves, the valve casing being cored to form air passages for the fluid. v

12. A rotary air compressor, whosecasing check valves controlling the passage offiuid is provided with an opening intersecting the through the chamber of the valwe casing. fluid outlet of the rotor chamber, a casing 16. Arotary air compressor, whose casinginserted in said opening and carrying a numis provided with detachable heads, the wall her of check valves, the valve casing being of the casing having an opening intersectcored to form air passages for the fluid, and ing the fluid outlet, and a casing inserted in means for retaining the valve casing in place. the opening and carrying a check valve for 13. A rotary air compressor, the wall of controlling the passage of fluid through the whose casing is bored to intersect the fluid chamber of the valve casing, the latter being outlet, and a casing insertedin said here cored for the purpose, and held in place by i and carrying check valves, the said casing the heads of the rotor chamber. being cored to allow the fluid to pass through 17 rotary air compressor, Whose casing when the check valves are open. 1s provided with detachableheads, the wall ,14. A rotary air compressor, whose casing of the casing having an opening intersect- 40 is provided with detachable heads, the wall ing the fluid outlet, a casing inserted in the of the casing having an opening intersecting opening and carrying a check valve for the fluid outlet, and a casing inserted therecontrolling the passage of fluid through in and carrying a check valve controlling the chamber of the valve casing, thelatter the passage of fiuidthrough the chamber being cored for the purpose and. held in of the valve casing, the latter belng held in place by the heads of the rotor chamber,

j place by the heads of the rotor casing. one of the said heads having an opening 15. A rotary air, compressor, having an registering with the opening in which the opening in its casing extending parallel wlth valve casing is inserted, and a detachable the axis of rotation, said opening intersectclosure for the opening in the said head.

ing the fluid outlet, and a member inserted In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

. HENRY O. JACKSON.

in said opening and carrying a number of 

